Breakfast To Benefit Jamaican Foundation

December 1, 2000|By DWAYNE CAMPBELL Staff Writer

Build Jamaica, the foundation that made its United States debut in Lauderdale Lakes last July, is hosting its first event designed to heighten awareness about social conditions on the island nation and the organization's intention to help.

That goal, to ask Jamaicans in the United States to commit $1 a day for at least a year for island social and economic programs, will be outlined at a prayer breakfast Saturday at the Inverrary Country Club in Lauderhill.

The breakfast is open to the public and attendees will be asked to contribute a minimum of $20.

Rev. Merrick "Al" Miller, Build Jamaica's founder and chaplain of the island's Reggae Boyz soccer team, will be the main speaker.

"We've been getting a good response to the concept but we don't think it's out there sufficiently. We want Build Jamaica to spread to churches and the business community. The concept needs everyone's help," said Harvey Blair, U.S. marketing coordinator for the nonprofit foundation.

Blair, who runs the foundation's South Florida operations from Sunrise, is planning regional fund-raising and activities while directing set up of other U.S. offices. The organization plans to open a Los Angeles office by February, followed by one in New York.

Build Jamaica touts itself as a non-political, non-governmental organization that will help to "arrest the declining social and economic conditions in Jamaica, by carefully planning and implementing a voluntarily funded development program." A major focus will be helping children, Blair said.

The foundation is also telling potential donors that all its financial records are open as are all the foundation's business dealings.

"We foster transparency in everything," Blair said.

Call 954-572-4239 for information.

Dwayne Campbell can be reached at dcampbell@sun-sentinel.com or 954-572-2004.